BOOK II. XXXVIII. 102-104 



by OTir ancestors to this which is otherwise designated 

 ' air ' — the whole of that apparently empty space 

 which pours forth this breath of Ufe. This region 

 below the moon, and a long way below it (as I notice 

 is almost universally agreed), blends together an 

 unlimited quantity from the upper element of air and 

 an unhmited quantity of terrestrial vapour, being a 

 combination of both orders. From it come clouds, 

 thunder-claps and also thunder-bolts, hail, frost, 

 rain, storms and whirhvinds ; from it come most of 

 mortals' misfortunes, and the warfare between the 

 elements of nature. The force of the stars presses 

 down terrestrial objects that strive to move towards 

 the sky, and also draws to itself things that lack spon- 

 taneous levitation. Rain falls, clouds rise, rivers dry 

 up, hailstoi-ms sweep down ; rays scorch, and im- 

 pinging from every side on the earth in the middle 

 of the world, then are broken and recoil and carry 

 with them the moisture they have drunk up. Steam 

 falls from on high and again returns on high. Empty 

 winds sweep down, and then go back again with their 

 plunder. So many hving creatures draw their breath 

 from the upper air ; but the air strives in the opposite 

 direction, and the earth pours back breath to the 

 sky as if to a vacuum. Thus as nature swings to 

 and fro hke a kind of shng, discord is kindled by the 

 velocity of the world's motion. Nor is the battle 

 allowed to stand still, but is continually carried up 

 and whirled round, displaying in an immense globe 

 that encircles the world the causes of things, con- 

 tinually overspreading another and another heaven 

 interwoven with the clouds. This is the realm of 

 the winds. Consequently their nature is here 

 pre-eminent, and ahnost includes all the rest of 



247 



